Monthly Archives: July 2012

In Memoriam: Tony Martin (1913-2012)

Posted on July 30, 2012 by willmckinley

“The Zeppo Role” was a relatively thankless part in all Marx Bros. films. After the “fourth brother” left the act following DUCK SOUP (1933), a stream of handsome young leading men took his standard part as the fresh-faced, often-crooning love interest: … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Film, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Maggie and Me in 3-D!

Posted on July 28, 2012 by willmckinley

Maggie and Me in 3-D!

My girlfriend Maggie and me after a screening of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) in 3-D at Film Forum on July 27, 2012.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

From Jonathan Frid to Johnny Depp: Comparing Barnabas Collins, 1967-2012

Posted on July 27, 2012 by willmckinley

I didn’t hate Tim Burton’s feature film reboot of Dark Shadows. Before you fans of the original 1966-1971 ABC-TV series start firing up your torches and heading toward my castle, hear me out. I didn’t say I liked it. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Jackie and Me

Posted on July 26, 2012 by willmckinley

Jackie and Me

Classic film buddy Jackie Brady and me after a screening of INHERIT THE WIND at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on July 26, 2012

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Rouben Mamoulian’s RINGS ON HER FINGERS (1942)

Posted on July 26, 2012 by willmckinley

Rouben Mamoulian’s RINGS ON HER FINGERS (1942)  has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the year for me, classic-film-wise. I reviewed the new DVD from the Twentieth Century Fox Cinema Archives Collection for Cinema Sentries this week, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Film, DVD Blu-Ray Review, Fox Cinema Archives | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Screening Report: Raymond Griffith at the Silent Clowns Film Series in New York

Posted on July 22, 2012 by willmckinley

If you’re a classic film fan, and you live near or plan to visit New York City, The Silent Clowns Film Series should be on your must-see list. Since 1997, this free, monthly series has been presenting hard-to-find silent short subjects and … Continue reading →

Posted in Screening Report, Silent Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Don’t Let Us Lose the Magic of Moviegoing

Posted on July 20, 2012 by willmckinley

In May of 1983 I saw RETURN OF THE JEDI at the Sunrise Multiplex, a six-screen theater that had recently opened on the border between Nassau County and Queens, on Long Island. I had never been to a movie theater … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Classic Film in 2012: The Opposite of Extinction

Posted on July 18, 2012 by willmckinley

There’s been a lot of talk recently about Neal Gabler’s suggestion in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times that old movies are “dinosaurs,” looking forlornly in the eye-rolling face of the generation (the under-30 “Millennials”) that will finally and irrevocably consign them … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

In Memoriam: Celeste Holm (1917-2012)

Posted on July 15, 2012 by willmckinley

Celeste Holm died today at the age of 95, at home in her beloved Central Park West apartment. I’ll let others report on the nearly seven decades Miss Holm spent gracing stage, screen and television. Instead, I will tell you … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN from TCM and Fathom Events: Flawed Technology, Delightful Results

Posted on July 13, 2012 by willmckinley

On Thursday, Turner Classic Movies and NCM Fathom Events presented SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) at nearly 500 venues nationwide. And I thought long and hard about not going to see it – even though I love old movies in general, … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Film, Screening Report, TCM | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments